Section-A
\nThe Tempest\u2014Shakespeare<\/p>\n
Question 1.
\nChoose three of the passages (a) to (d) and answer as briefly as possible the questions that follow :
\n(a) Prospero :
\nHear a little further,
\nAnd then I\u2019ll bring thee to the present business
\nWhich now\u2019s upon\u2019s; without the which this story
\nWere most impertinent.<\/p>\n
Miranda :
\nWherefore did they not
\nThat hour destroys us?<\/p>\n
Prospero :
\nWell demanded, wench :
\nMy tale provokes that question.
\nDear, they trust not,<\/p>\n
(i) Which \u201chour\u201d is Miranda referring to?
\n(ii) According to Prospero why couldn\u2019t his enemies destroy them?
\n(iii) What did they do to Miranda and Prospero?
\n(iv) What according to Prospero is the \u201cpresent business which now\u2019s upon\u2019s \u201d?
\n(v) What was the main reason which gave Prospero courage to bear his troubles?<\/p>\n
(b) Gonzalo :
\nHad I plantation of this isle, my lord\u2014<\/p>\n
Antonio :
\nHe \u2019d sow\u2019t with nettle-seed.<\/p>\n
Sebastian :
\nOr docks, or mallows.<\/p>\n
Gonzalo :
\nAnd were the king on\u2019t, what would I do?<\/p>\n
Sebastian :
\n\u2018Scape being drunk, for want of<\/p>\n
Gonzalo :
\n1\u2019 th\u2019 commonwealth 1 would be contraries
\nExecute all things,<\/p>\n
(i) Explain what Gonzalo means by \u201cHad I plantation of this isle\u201d? Whom does he address as \u201cmy lord\u201d?
\n(ii) Mention four things which Gonzalo says he will have in his \u201ccommonwealth\u201d.
\n(iii) Who are Antonio and Sebastian? What kind of attitude do they have towards Gonzalo?
\n(iv) Give one remark made earlier by Sebastian which shows his cold attitude.
\n(v) What is Gonzalo\u2019s motive in talking about a commonwealth? Which characteristics of his stand out in this scene?<\/p>\n
(c) Ferdinand :
\nThis is strange. Your father\u2019s in some passion
\nThat works him strongly.<\/p>\n
Miranda :
\nNever till this day
\nSaw I him touch\u2019d with anger, so distemper\u2019d<\/p>\n
Prospero :
\n[To Ferdinand] You do look, my son, in mov\u2019d sort,
\nAs if you were dismay\u2019d. Be cheerful, sir;
\nOur revels now are ended…<\/p>\n
(i) Why is Prospero \u201ctouch\u2019d with anger so distemper\u2019d\u201d? Explain the phrase.
\n(ii) What \u201crevels\u201d is Prospero referring to? Why were they held?
\n(iii) What does Prospero go on to say about human beings and life in the same speech?
\n(iv) What does Prospero now order Ariel to do?
\n(v) \u201cAt this hour Lies at my mercy all mine enemies\u201d says Prospero at the end of this scene. Show how far this is true.<\/p>\n
(d) Prospero :
\nMark but the badges of these men, my lords,
\nThen say if they be true. This misshapen knave.
\nHis mother was a witch, and one so strong
\nThat could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
\nAnd deal in her command without her power.
\nThese three have robb\u2019d me, and this demi-devil\u2014
\nFor he\u2019s a bastard one-had plotted with them.
\nTo take my life. Two of these fellows you
\nMust know and own; this thing of darkness I Acknowledge mine.<\/p>\n
(i) Who are the \u201cmy lords\u201d Prospero is \u2018 addressing? Where are they?
\n(ii) Who are \u201cthese men \u201d? Why does Prospero want \u201cmy lords\u201d to look at their \u201cbadges\u201d?
\n(iii) \u201cThis misshapen knave\u201d \u2014 to whom is Prospero referring? What does Prospero say about this person\u2019s mother?
\n(iv) Describe the condition and dress of \u201cthese men\u201d? How did they come to be in this state?
\n(v) How does Prospero deal with the three of them? State what you think of Prospero\u2019s decision.
\nAnswer:
\n(a) (i) Miranda refers to the hour when with the help of Alonso and Sebastian, Antonio removed her and her father Prospero, from Milan.
\n(ii) According to Prospero, enemies could not destroy them because the people of Milan loved them very much and they would have revolted against Antonio.
\n(iii) Miranda and Prospero were placed on a deserted boat and were left in the midst of the ocean by the enemies to die.
\n(iv) The present business refers to Prospero\u2019s wish to tell Miranda the reason for raining the storm in the sea.
\n(v) The smile of Miranda gave courage to Prospero to bear the troubles.<\/p>\n
(b) (i) Gonzalo means to say that if he would be the king of this island he would do many things. Alonso, the King of Naples, is addressed as \u2018my lord\u2019.
\n(ii) In his commonwealth Gonzalo would :
\n(a) Have no magistrates.
\n(b) Have no occupation; men will be idle.
\n(c) Neither have riches nor poverty.
\n(d) Women will be innocent and pure.
\n(iii) Antonio is the brother of Prospero, who had usurped the dukedom of Milan from him. Sebastian is the brother of the King of Naples, Alonso. They are making fun of Gonzalo.
\n(iv) \u201cT\u2019was what a sweet Marriage\u201d, was end of the remarks made earlier by Sebastian to Alonso. He spoke in an ironical manner and blamed Alonso for whatever happened to them.
\n(v) Gonzalo\u2019s motive in talking about a commonwealth is just to amuse his master Alonso, who is sorry and sad to have lost his son in the storm. In this scene, Gonzalo\u2019s characteristics like loyalty and sincerity stand out.<\/p>\n
(c) (i) The cause of Prospero\u2019s anger is the treachery or wicked conspiracy hatched by Caliban against him with the help of Stephano and Trinculo. The phrase means that Miranda has never seen her father in such an angry state.
\n(ii) By \u2018revels\u2019 he refers to the masque in which various goddesses and spirits took part. It was held to bless the marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand.
\n(iii) Prospero says that human beings are as unreal as the dreams and their brief existence is followed by death that puts an end to that existence.
\n(iv) Prospero orders Ariel to bring \u2018trumpery\u2019 i.e., rich clothings, to deceive Caliban and the plotters against him.
\n(v) This is true to every extent as Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian are in a fit of madness, whereas Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban are chased away by spirits in disguise of dogs and hounds.<\/p>\n
(d) (i) The \u201cmy lords\u201d referred here by Prospero are Alonso, Sebastian, Gonzalo, Antonio, and others. They are in front of the cell of Prospero.
\n(ii) \u2018These men\u2019 are Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo. He wants to point them out to look at their \u2018badges\u2019 because the clothes belonged to Prospero which \u2018these men\u2019 had stolen.
\n(iii) Prospero is referring to Caliban. He says about Sycorax, the mother of Caliban, that she was a witch and was so powerful that she had power over the moon and could cause the sea to ebb and flow.
\n(iv) \u201cThese men\u201d are heavily drunk and are wearing the clothes they had stolen. They are in this state because of Prospero\u2019s plan and are under the charm of his magical power.
\n(v) Prospero pardons them. It is a good decision as forgiveness is the keynote of the play.<\/p>\n
Section – B
\nThe Tempest -Shakespeare<\/p>\n
Question 3.
\nBriefly but vividly describe the opening scene of the play \u201cThe Tempest\u201d, bringing out clearly the impression the scene makes on your mind and its importance in’ the play.
\nAnswer:
\nAs the title of the play itself suggests, the opening scene of \u2018The Tempest\u2019 is a vivid description of a ship caught in a storm. It dramatically tells how a ship is wrecked and how people in it come to the island. It also introduces the audience to some of the important characters of the play.<\/p>\n
As the scene unfolds, the captain of the ship is seen ordering his boatswain to call all men to duty as the ship is in danger. The boatswain instructs the mariners to adjust the topsail as he is apprehensive Of the outcome of the storm. On board the ship are Alonso, the king of Naples, Sebastian his brother, Antonio, the duke of Milan, Alonso\u2019s son Ferdinand, Gonzalo, an honest councillor of Alonso, and other lords. Alonso shows deep concern for the ship but the boatswain tells them impatiently to go down to their cabins as they mar the crew\u2019s labour.<\/p>\n
When Gonzalo asks the boatswain to be patient, the boatswain retorts that he is hindering his work. He tells Gonzalo that, the waves do not care for the name of a king. He is rude towards Gonzalo. He commands him to go to his cabin and prepare himself for any misfortune that may fall on him. Gonzalo is annoyed but hopes that this man does not die by drowning but be hanged later on.<\/p>\n
This scene also shows Shakespeare\u2019s profound knowledge of sea and seamanship.<\/p>\n
The boatswain tries to keep the ship far from the seashore, but is irritated by Sebastian and Antonio who curses and speaks ill words to him. Gonzalo wanted everyone to join the king at prayers, but at the same time a confused noise comes :<\/p>\n
\u201cMercy on us!-We split, we split!-Farewell, my wife and children !-Farewell, brother!-We split, we split, we split!\u201d<\/p>\n
The scene ends with Gonzalo saying:
\nThe wills above be done, but I would fain die a dry death.
\nThough the scene is not very long yet it is very effective. The treatment of the scene compels us to think that no one on board the ship would survive. So, it can be said that the presentation of the opening scene is realistic.<\/p>\n
Question 4.
\nAntonio is an out and out villain. With close reference to what he says and does, show how far you agree with this statement.
\nAnswer:
\nAntonio is the most wicked and hateful character in the play. He does evil without remorse or sense of any guilt. He does not regret his deeds towards his brother Prospero. He is loyal to none. He even plots to kill Alonso and instigates Sebastian against him. Prospero calls him \u201cPerfidious\u201d, a \u201cfalse uncle\u201d while narrating his tale to Miranda.<\/p>\n
Antonio betrayed Prospero\u2019s trust in him and usurped his dukedom. He cruelly put his brother and his three-year-old daughter in a deserted ship and left them at the mercy of the sea-god. He was not guilty or ashamed; instead boasts to Sebastian later :
\n\u201cAnd look how well my garments sit upon me. Much feater than before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Antonio speaks ill about Gonzalo and calls him a talkative person. He instigates Sebastian to kill Alonso so that, he would be free from the tribute he has to pay to Alonso. He forgets all the help Alonso had extended to him in order to remove Prospero from Milan.<\/p>\n
He laughs at Gonzalo for his loyalty and is ready to kill him and the King of Naples in their sleep. Prospero in the end remarks about Antonio\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cFor you wicked Sir,
\nWhom to call a brother
\nWould even infect my mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thus, we see that Antonio is an out and out villain.<\/p>\n
ISC English Literature Previous Year Question Paper 2003 Solved for Class 12 Section-A The Tempest\u2014Shakespeare Question 1. Choose three of the passages (a) to (d) and answer as briefly as possible the questions that follow : (a) Prospero : Hear a little further, And then I\u2019ll bring thee to the present business Which now\u2019s upon\u2019s; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41556],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n